Tinubu tells governors: Stop building unnecessary flyovers, channel funds to fight insecurity

President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to stop building unnecessary flyovers and redirect resources toward road networks and security infrastructure, while also blaming instability in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic for worsening Nigeria’s insecurity challenges and promising that state police would soon become a reality.

President Bola Tinubu had a direct message for Nigeria’s governors on Wednesday — stop showing off with flyovers and start investing in security.

Addressing a delegation of Oyo State traditional rulers led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at Aso Villa in Abuja, the President called out what he described as misplaced infrastructure priorities among state governments, urging them to channel resources into road networks and measures that would help security agencies access vulnerable communities.

“Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay, and they should do more, instead of fly over where there is no numeric traffic, build roads and arteries network to really enhance the quality of life and the accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate those areas,” Tinubu said.

As reported by Daily Trust, the President also addressed the root causes of Nigeria’s worsening security situation, pointing beyond the country’s borders. He stated that some of those terrorising Nigerians are foreign nationals, and linked the instability in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic directly to the escalating security challenges facing Nigeria.

On solutions, Tinubu offered two key commitments — the imminent establishment of state police and a boost to forest guard capacity across the country. “That is why we must enhance the capacity of the forest guards as well as create the state police,” he said, calling on the traditional rulers — including the former Oyo State Governor Oba Ladoja — to help communicate his message to sitting governors.

The president also highlighted the increased federal allocations flowing to states, arguing that governors today have significantly more resources at their disposal than their predecessors and should be doing considerably more with them.

The Oyo traditional rulers’ delegation did not issue a public statement following the Aso Villa visit.